Fastener



C. H. MENSCH FASTENER Charles HMeg ggfa.

Filed March 15, 1923 Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STA'IEQS CHARLES H. MENSCH, OF BOYERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. I

EASTENER.

Application filed March 13, 1923. Serial No, 624,799.

This invention relates to fastening means for burial casket-s, and the principalobject is to produce a device of this nature which will be simple of construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and highly efficient for the purpose for which it is designed.

Another object is to produce a device of this nature which will automaticallyfasten the top on the casketuponbringing the fastening elements into engagement. 7

Another object is to produce a device of this nature in which adjustment may bemade without having to move or disturb the fastening plates.

With these and other objects in view as will be more apparent, the invention consists in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described,

are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: i

Figure 1-is a sectional view showing portions of the body and top of a casket with my fastening means in place thereon.

Figure 2-is a plan View of the fastening plate for the head of the casket.

Figure 3is an edge view of the plate shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4is a plan view of the fastening plate for the foot of the casket.

Figure 5is an edge view of the plate shown in Figure 4.

, Like characters of reference refer to like parts in all views.

The present invention contemplates providing the body of a casket with upstanding screws at the head and foot, the heads of which are adapted to slip into and be automatically retained in fastening plates on the under face of the top or cover of the casket. It is further contemplated that adjustment between top and body may be made by turning the aforesaid screws and without disturbing the co-operative plates. F urthermore, simple means is provided for releasing the devices at the will of the operator.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 and 11 represent respectively the top and body sections of a burial casket which may be of any desired and suitable design, construction and material. The head portion is shown toward the left-hand and the foot portion ,toward the right-hand in Figure 1.

The securing and locking means for the foot portion of the casket consists essentially of a plate and screws 13. The screw 131is secured in the upperface of the side Wall of the bodyill and extendsupwardly therefrom terminating in a head 14. The plate 12 is secured to the under face'o-f the top or cover section 10 and is formed with an upwardly pressed guide-way or leading element 15 which is adapted to receive the screw 13 and guide it into a slot 16in plate 12. Slot 16 is narrower than the diameter of the head 14, and when the shank of screw 13 is in slot .16, the cover or lid 10 is fastened against upward movement unless it is first moved longitudinallyto bring crew '13 out of slot 16.

The means for automatically preventing this longitudinal movement will be resentl set forth. p y

' The securing and fastening means for the head portion of the casket consists essentially of a screw 17 and plate 18. The screw 17 is also secured in the side wall of the body 11 from whichit extends upwardly terminating in a head 19. The plate 18 is slotted longitudinally at 20 and horizontally at 21 so as to define a. springy element 22 which terminates in an upwardly turned toe 23 facing a slot 24 similar to slot 16. Slot 24 is narrower than head 19 so that when screw 17 is entered in slot 24, the lid and body of the casket cannot be separated exceptby relative longitudinal movement. In entering slot 24 the screw 17 must spring up the element 22 until head 19 is above the normal levelof the plate 18. As the screw is then moved into the slot 24, the spring element returns to nor- 19 thereby fastening the screw against retrograde movement and preventing movement of the entire cover 10 to unlocked position. A linger piece 25 permits the operator to open the casket at will by lifting element 22 so as to permit sliding the cover longitudinally.

It is of course to be understood that each casket is provided on eachside with both of the above fastening devices, and that variations due to atmospheric conditions, etc. can be quickly compensated for by adjusting screws 13 and 1 It is also to be understood that the side walls of the framework of the casket will be properly recessed or morticed to 1 permit (Ill lllf) tion, it is obvious that many of the parts may be varied Without in any Way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I'therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein shown nor to anything less than the Whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fastener as for a casket and cover having supplemental securing means, said fastener comprisinga headed member at one end of the body of the casket, an anchoring plate carried by the cover, a recess formed in the cover under the plate, said anchoring plate having a spring tongue an adjoining slot, in the path of the entrance to which the tongue is positioned, and whereby upon yielding of said tongue, the headed member may enter the slot, said tongue having an upturned lug lying in the path of the headed member to prevent removal of such member from the slot, said tongue having a finger piece whereby the tongue may be operated to permit the cover to be removed to allow the headed member to disengage from the slot.

2. A fastener for a casket and its cover, said fastener comprising a headed member at one end of the casket body, said cover having a recess coincident to the headed member, an anchoring plate covering the recess and having a spring tongue and an adjoining slot, said tongue being positioned in the path of the entrance to the slot, whereby upon yielding of said tongue the headed member may enter the slot, said tongue having a tapered V shaped end portion with an upturned lug at its terminal, said lug lying in the path of the headed member to prevent removal of such member from the slot, said tongue having a finger piece whereby the tongueniay be operated to permit the cover to be moved to allow the headed member to disengage from the slot.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

CHARLES H. MENSCH 

